Strawberry plant named ‘BG-4315’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘BG-4315’. This new strawberry plant named ‘BG-4315’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its weak interveinal blistering, acute terminal leaflet base, inner calyx is smaller than outer calyx, orange red to red fruit color, and medium to large fruit size.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘BG-4315’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘BG-4315’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2002 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-633’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-1445’ (a non-patented selection). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif. in the winter of 2004. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘BG-4315’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the winter and spring production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘BG-4315’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Weak interveinal blistering;     -   2. Acute terminal leaflet base;     -   3. Inner calyx is smaller than outer calyx;     -   4. Orange red to red fruit color; and     -   5. Medium to large fruit size.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘BG-4315’ is ‘BG-1975’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’, ‘BG-4315’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 COMPARISON TO THE SIMILAR VARIETY ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4315’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Marketable yield 1,180 1,080 (gm/plant) Fruit predominant Conical Ranges from conical to almost shape cylindrical Insertion of achenes Level with the Ranges from level with to below surface the surface 50% of plants with Medium Ranges from medium to early ripe fruit Plant size Medium Ranges from medium to large Foliage color Medium green Ranges from medium to light yellow green Petiole pubescence Moderate Heavy Position of fruiting Level with the Ranges from level with to above truss relative to foliage the foliage foliage

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘BG-4315’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-633’ and ‘BG-1445’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 COMPARISON WITH PARENT VARIETIES ‘BG-633’ Characteristic ‘BG-4315’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320) ‘BG-1445’ Marketable 1,180 964 692 yield (gm/plant) Fruit gloss Medium Weak Medium Fruit size Ranges from Ranges from medium to Large medium to large large Plant size Medium Ranges from medium to Medium small

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4315’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘BG-4315’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4315’ are approximately six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, Calif.:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘BG-4315’, taken in the month of April 2011;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘BG-4315’, taken in the month of April 2011;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘BG-4315’, taken in the month of April 2011; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘BG-4315’, taken in the month of April 2011.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘BG-4315’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘BG-4315’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘BG-4315’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2011 growing season in Ventura County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘BG-4315’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during early October 2010 and planted approximately four to five days later in Ventura County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is six months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from six years of data collected from the 2006 through 2011 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘BG-4315’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘BG-4315’ Pat. No. 17,725) Color of mature fruit RHS 45B RHS 45A Ranges from orange Ranges from orange red to red red to red Color of internal flesh RHS 44A RHS 44A Medium red Medium red Fruit length (cm) 4.2 4.5 Fruit width (cm) 4.0 3.9 Fruit length/width ratio 1.06 1.14 Ranges from as long Slightly longer than as broad to slightly broad longer than broad Calyx diameter (cm) 4.4 5.2 Average fruit weight (gm) 26.9 26.6 Achene color, shaded side RHS 153C RHS 152D Yellow green group Yellow green group Achene color, RHS 184B RHS 183A sun-exposed side Greyed purple group Greyed purple group Achenes per berry 317 300 Achene weight (mg) 0.55 0.67 Marketable fruit yield 1,180 1,080 (gm/plant) Fruit size Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to large to large Predominant fruit shape Conical Ranges from conical to almost cylindrical Difference in shapes Ranges from slight to Ranges from slight to between primary and moderate moderate secondary fruit Band without achenes Absent or very narrow Absent or very narrow Unevenness of fruit surface Medium Weak Evenness of fruit color Ranges from slightly Ranges from slightly uneven to even uneven to even Fruit glossiness Medium Ranges from medium to strong Insertion of achenes Level with surface Ranges from below surface to level with surface Insertion of calyx In basin In basin Attitude of calyx Spreading Spreading Size of calyx in relation Slightly larger Ranges from slightly to fruit diameter larger to much larger Adherence of calyx Strong Very strong Firmness of fruit skin Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to strong to strong Firmness of fruit flesh Firm Medium Keeping quality Good Good Distribution of red color Marginal and central Marginal and central of the flesh Hollow center expression Moderate Moderate Fruit flavor Good Very good Soluble solids (% brix) 8.5 8.6 Time of first flowering Medium Ranges from early to medium Time of first harvesting Medium Ranges from early to medium Harvest period Early January to late Early January to late May May Type of bearing Not remontant Not remontant

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4315’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Plant height (cm) 21.8 23.0 Plant spread (cm) 25.2 26.1 Plant size Medium Ranges from large to medium Plant habit Globose Globose Plant density Medium Medium Plant vigor Ranges from Ranges from medium to strong medium to strong

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4315’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Stolon color RHS 146D RHS 146D Yellow green group Yellow green group Stolon anthocyanin RHS 184A RHS 182A coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group Stolon anthocyanin Strong Weak intensity Average stolon Ranges from medium Medium quantity to many Stolon diameter at 3.5 3.1 bract (mm) Stolon pubescence Medium Strong Attitude of hairs Upwards Slightly outward

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘BG-4315’ Pat. No. 17,725) Foliage: Color of upper surface RHS 137A RHS 146B Medium green Ranges from light yellow green to medium yellow green Color of underside RHS 147C RHS 147C Yellow green group Yellow green group Shape in cross section Slightly concave to flat Slightly concave to flat Interveinal blistering Weak Ranges from weak to medium Leaf glossiness Medium Ranges from weak to medium Number of leaflets 3 3 Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 6.8 7.0 Width (cm) 6.0 6.2 Length/width ratio 1.13 1.13 Ranges from as long Ranges from as long as as broad to longer than broad to longer than broad broad Serrations/leaf 16.4 20.8 Leaf Size Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to to small small Shape of base Acute Acute Shape of teeth Rounded Rounded Petiole: Petiole color RHS 144B RHS 144B Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiole length (cm) 15.8 15.5 Petiole diameter (mm) 3.3 3.7 Petiolule color RHS 144B RHS 144B Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiolule length (mm) 4.2 11.7 Petiole pubescence Moderate Heavy Attitude of hairs Ranges from slightly Strongly outward outward to strongly outward Stipule: Color RHS 146A RHS 146C Yellow green group Yellow green group Anthocyanin coloration RHS 63A RHS 61B Red purple group Red purple group Anthocyanin intensity Ranges from weak to Weak medium Length (mm) 16.2 16.0 Width (mm) 12.1 10.1

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘BG-4315’ Pat. No. 17,725) Anthocyanin coloration RHS 179C RHS 181C Greyed red group Greyed red group Anthocyanin intensity Weak Weak Length at maturity (cm) 26.3 28.6 Position relative to foliage Level with the foliage Ranges from level with to above the foliage Pubescence Ranges from medium Strong to strong Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘BG-4315’ No. 17,725) Petal color RHS NN155C RHS NN155C White group White group Sepal color RHS 137B RHS 138A Green group Green group Corolla diameter (mm) 31.6 27.7 Calyx diameter (mm) 39.9 38.8 Petal length (mm) 13.2 10.7 Petal width (mm) 13.4 10.5 Petal length/width ratio .99 1.02 Petals/flower 6.2 6.3 Sepal length (mm) 17.4 15.5 Sepal width (mm) 6.3 5.5 Sepal length/width ratio 2.75 2.81 Sepals/flower 11.8 12.6 Size of calyx relative to corolla Larger Larger Size of inner calyx relative to Smaller Ranges from smaller outer calyx to same Relative position of petals Overlapping Overlapping

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-4315’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) Two-spotted Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible spider mite Powdery mildew Moderate Moderately susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible Angular leaf spot Susceptible Susceptible 

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘BG-4315’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 